Glass top on CE?

[Skant]

I'm curious about getting a glass top for my CE. Does anyone have pictures of what the silver CE looks like with the glass?

Also... where to buy from? And how much do they cost? I hear they're quite expensive. Any downsides to them?

- Skant

 

[69MyWay]

Used prices are up and down. Becareful with a used top for several reasons. It must come from the same late model C4 generation or it won't fit. There are plenty of ebay crooks that would love to sell you a $250 top from a 1986, but it won't bolt down to a 96.

Most corvette recyclers will sell you one. They all get a weird cracking look to the acrylic after a few years were the top curves around the front edge. Don't sweat that. Slight scratches can be buffed out.

A new one will run you upwards of $1,000, with used as low as $150 depending on condition. You can always buy a used broken one and send it out to be reconditioned. In the back of the Vette mags, etc. there is a company that does the reconditioning trick.

I don't have any pics of one, but I can tell you that you will love it when you get one. They are lighter, give you more head room, and they make the inside of the car feel awesome!

 

[lt4 gs]

a decent used one will run around 5-700.....................I have an extra ......never used ......new one .........but it's NOT cheap..............(blue tint)


for used ...........try this fella...........at least they are reputable:
http://www.tracyvette.com/

 

[Bob Yates]

The only advise I can give you is to stay away from Thompson Astro Tops. They have a very poor fit and look cheap to boot. Make sure if you do find one that you can install it first. Thats the best way to be happy with your purchase.

 

[Vettelt193]

I'm curious about getting a glass top for my CE. Does anyone have pictures of what the silver CE looks like with the glass?

Also... where to buy from? And how much do they cost? I hear they're quite expensive. Any downsides to them?

- Skant

any reason why you want one? The glass top is not that great IMO. It makes the car really hot in the summer, it is harder to take care of, they tend to make creaking sounds, they make the car noisier..... I have both, and use the painted top 10 months out of the year, and probably wouldn't miss having the glass top.

 

[Skant]

Thanks for the info.

Does it really get that hot with the glass top? I assume it's pretty heavily tinted.

But then, I think it gets really hot in Florida. I live in San Jose, CA and the weather is usually more temperate here.

What do other folks think? Is the glass top worth having?

Oh, and to answer the question, I really like the 'wide open' feeling of having the top off. Hopefully, the glass lets you do something like that in less ideal weather.

- David Peterson

 

[69MyWay]

We put the static clean dot matrix stuff from Mid America in all of our glass tops. It cuts the heat way down on the inside and still lets the sun shine.

After installing that, I don't really notice any excess heat at all.

 

[Vettelt193]

But the best part of the glass top really, is being able to see through it.... and the dot matrix stuff stops that.

with the glass top: Even in winter, when the car is in the sun, it gets warm (we are talking florida winters here) and yes, it does get really hot in FL anyway... Are you in a local Corvette club? If you are, maybe you can ask someone to lend you their roof for a couple of days to try it out.

 

[lt4 gs]

But the best part of the glass top really, is being able to see through it.... and the dot matrix stuff stops that.

with the glass top: Even in winter, when the car is in the sun, it gets warm (we are talking florida winters here) and yes, it does get really hot in FL anyway... Are you in a local Corvette club? If you are, maybe you can ask someone to lend you their roof for a couple of days to try it out.

Don't want to burst any bubbles here, but............when you borrow a top to see if you like it..................I hope the guys a real good friend............because the top....any top .....solid or glass........ if it didn't leave the factory with the car.........you will have to align it to the specific vehicle in order to bolt it down........if you look at the underside, front..........you will see the adjusters........

 

[Vettelt193]

it only takes a couple of minutes to do it, I wouldn't mind loaning mine out to someone that lived in town that I trusted (I feel that most Corvette owners are trustworthy people)